Obituaries

Arnold 'Jim' Carlson, Founded 'Boots for Christmas' at Prince of Peace

Services are Thursday, Sept. 19

Arnold J. (Jim) Carlson, 80, passed away on Sept. 14, 2013. 

He was the youngest of seven children born to Stener J. and Ruth Carlson of White Butte, S. D. 

He and his future wife, Jane Christopher, graduated from Colorado State University in 1954, and were married the same day. Jim was in FarmHouse fraternity and a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. 

In 1956 he was employed as Director of Process and Development at the new taconite iron mining facility on the Mesabi Range, Erie Mining Co., owned by Pickands Mather, Cleveland. Jim was Mayor of Hoyt Lakes for 10 years, the second youngest Mayor elected in Minnesota. The Jaycees named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in Minnesota. 

Jim transferred to Australia, for 5 years to become Asst. General Manager of Savage River Mines. He returned to Cleveland as Director of Environmental Technology, and retired after 30 years with Pickands Mather, later Cleveland Cliffs.

After retirement, he ran his own environmental cleanup company, working in many states. He and his wife enjoyed foreign travel, and later traveled extensively throughout the U.S. in their motor home. He had many interests – owned a small stable of racing horses based in Chicago, loved hunting and fishing, and excelled in trap shooting, winning the Senior Grand American tournament in 2004. 

He loved growing roses and tomatoes at his Westlake home, and in 2010 won a blue ribbon for tomatoes at the Cuyahoga county fair. He and his wife collected clothing for the Men’s Shelter in Cleveland, and started the “Boots for Christmas” drive at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. But Jim’s most important interest in life was always his family. 

He leaves behind a brother Stener, sister Myrtle; Jane, his wife of 59 years; and three children, Janice Snyder (Michael) of Lakewood, OH, James C. Carlson (Sandy) of Lincoln University, PA, and Dr. Eric Carlson (Lujan) of Santiago, Chile. Son Christopher died in 1996. Eight grandchildren include Jillian, Matthew and Jonathan Snyder, Steven and Courtney Carlson, Nicholas Tizzard, and Eric J. and Juance Carlson. 

Funeral arrangements are provided by Jenkins Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 28455 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake. A brief visitation will precede the service at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery on Friday at 11 a.m. for family members. 

Memorials are suggested for the Men's Shelter, 2100 Lakeside, Cleveland; 44113, and NAMI of Cuyahoga County, 2012 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 44113.


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